Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1192. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for patient advocates across various State health committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20059/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Health is committed to ensuring and supporting the central role that patients play in working with the public health service to develop health policy and in designing and reforming health services.  It is vital that government hears and includes the voice of the patient and service user.  Patient representatives participate on a number of committees and working groups across the Department of Health, the HSE and health agencies and make a significant contribution to the strategic decision-making work of those committees and groups. 

With this in mind, the Department is currently developing a policy for the selection and payment of patient representatives who participate on committees and working groups that are involved in strategic decision-making in relation to the development of health policy and the design of health services.  In developing a draft policy, the Department has conducted a review of international practice and has referred particularly to the NHS 2017 Policy on ‘Patient and Public Voice Partners Policy’ as the most mature international policy in this area.  The draft policy, when adopted, will be applicable to the Department, HSE and other health agencies. 

The development of this policy had been slowed down by the impact of COVID.  However, this policy remains a priority for the Government.  My officials continue to work on a consultation process and work with colleagues in the HSE, other Government departments and the Office of the Revenue Commissioner to put a robust and transparent system in place to facilitate such payments.